Pencil sharpener



' July 2.1, 1925.;

F. W. BENTON PENCIL SHARPENER Filed Aug, 25, 1924 btou my Patented July21, '1925.

FRANK W. BENTON, 0F WILSON, NORTH CAROLINA..

PENCIL SHARPENER.

Application led' August 25, 1924. SeraI No. 734,083.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK W. BENTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wilson, in the county of Wilson and State ot North Carolina,have invented new and useful Improvements in Pencil Sharpeners, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to pencil sharpeners, and one object of theinvention is to provide a pencil Sharpener which will eXert alongitudinal cutting action at a proper angle for a desired taper on thewood body and lead oi the pencil while the pencil is being rotated,whereby the efficiency of cutting action ot a pen knife, as in skilledhand sharpening, may be secured with a still greater degree ot accuracyof cut, the eX posed portion ot the lead taper-pointed to an exactdegree, and liability of breaking the point during the sharpening actionreduced to the minimum.

A further object/,of the invention is to provide a novel type of cuttingmechanismV embodying a reciprocatory cutting blade movable in an arcuatepath across the end of the pencil to be sharpened and also in a pathinclined to the plane of the pencil, whereby an eflicient combined drawand shear cut action of the blade is obtained.

A still further object ofthe invent-ion is to provide noveltrigger-operated means for actuating the cutting blade.

A still further object ot the invention is to provide a pencil sharpenerembodying a. casing having portions forming an enclosure for thetrigger-operated blade-actuating mechanism and a receptacle for theshavings, which casing portions and trigger member of the bladeactuating mechanism simulate generally in form and arrangement thebarrel, stock and trigger of a pistol, thereby producing a Sharpenerwhich may be easily handled and operated and at the same timeconstitutes a novelty.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing,`in which Figure l isa centrallongitudinal section through the Sharpener, showing a pencil fitted inposition for sharpening. Y

Figure 2 is a horizontal transverse'sectionon line Q-Qof Figure 1. Y

Figure 3 is a Vtransverse. section on line 3-3 of Figure'l. f

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a portion ot the sharpening chamber ofthe device.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the shavings receptacle.

Figure 6 is a transverse section on line 6 6 of Figure l.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the parts of the sharpening `deviceper se.

Figure`8 is an enlarged detail section on line 8 8 of Figure l. Y

In carrying my invention into practice, I provide an enclosing casing lhaving a longitudinally extending portion orchamber 2 and a dependingportion 3 disposed at the rear of such portion 2 and communicating atits upper end with the base thereof. This casing l may be made of anysuitable material, and, as shown, the portions 2 and 3 are shaped tosimulate the general form and appearance ot the barrel and stock of aconventional type .of pistol.

The portion 2 provides a chamber or receptacle to receive the end ot thepencil to be sharpened and to enclose the sharpening mechanism, whilethe portion 3 forms a chamber or receptacle for the wood shavings andparticles of lead removed from the pencil in the sharpening action. Anoutlet 4lis provided at the base of the shaving receptacle 3 for thedischarge of the accumulated shavings at proper times, and this outletis adapted to be normally closed by a sliding door or cover 5,

The front wall of the chamber 2 is provided with an opening tor thepassage ot a support or holder 6 for the pencil 7 to be sharpened. Thissupport or holder comprises a longitudinally split tube, capable ofexpansion and contraction. and adapted to be normally held contracted bva coiled contractile sprintr 8. The side walls of the `tube carry pinsor studs 9 which extend at their outer ends through openings in the sidewalls ot the chamhciI 2 and are headed to holdthem from dis-- placement.The pins or studs 9 are lecseliv fitted in the openings in the walls otchamber 2 for sliding movement, whereby 'the holder 6 is adapted `forfree and ready e.\'

pansion and contraction to receive and grip pencils of differentdiameters and shapes.

' while permitting the held pencil to be turned or rotated therewith.

Sharpening mechanism is provided within the chamber 2 foracti'onupon'the inserted end of thepencilk?. This sharpening mechanismcomprises a blade holder or support 10 comprising a bar or lever havingan arm 11 pivotally mounted as at 12 upon a crossbar 13 fixed within theforward end of the casing, the pivotal connection 12 adapting the holder10 to swing in an arcuate path in a general direction longitudinally ofthe casing and also transversely thereof. The bar 10 has its uppersurface formed to provide an inclined seat 14 for a cutter blade 15having a convexly curved cutting edge 1G. Openings 17 are provided inthe blade for engagement with dowel pins or lreys 1S on the bar 10, andbetween said openings 17 the blade is provided with an opening 19 forpassage of a fastening screw 20, adapted to engage a threaded opening 21in the bar 10, whereby the blade may be accurately seated and firmlysecured in position. This construction also permits of the ready andconvenient substitution of a new blade for one which has been chilled bylong service, as will be readily understood. ylhe blade 15 is held bythe bar 10 at a proper cutting angle inclined to the axis of the pencil,so that the blade in one direction of motion in each of itsoscillations, or reciprocations in a curved path, will sharpen the endof the pencil wood and taper the exposed lead point to a desired andexact degree, For the purpose of guiding the bar 10 and blade 15 in anaccurate working path, and holding the edge of the blade with thedesired pressure against the surface of the pencil, a guide 22 isprovided comprising a bar or rail fixed at its ends to the bottom andtop portions of the chamber 2, said bar or rail being segmentally curvedin an arc conforming to the arc of motion of the blade.

Extending between the cross-bar 12 to the rear wall of the chamber 2 andthrough a cross-piece or abutment 23 disposed in the chamber 2 is aguide rod 241- on which is slidably fitted an actuating traveler 25, andencompassing the rod 2e between the abutment 23 and the traveler 25 is acoiled retracting spring 2G. The traveler 25 is adapted to impartworking motion to the blade holder 10 and to this end is coupled theretoby apitman or connecting rod 27, the construction being such that whenthe traveler 25 is moved rearwardly on its working motion the holderwill also be moved rearwardly on its working motion, in which operationthe spring 26 will be compressed, for shifting. the traveler and bladeholder forward or on their return motion back to starting position. Thetraveler 25 is carried by a slide plate 28 fitted for movement upon thebottom of the chamber 2 above a slot 29 therein, the slide 28 beingslotted for the downward passage of the base of the travelertherethrough. A trigger-shaped actuating member or finger-piece 30depends from the base of the traveler and is apertured for the passageof a cross-pin or key 31 extending across the walls of the slot 29 anddetachably holding the traveler 25 and slide 28 in position. whilepermitting the same to have free sliding motions. A guard 32 enclosesthe linger-piece 30 and is fixed to the base of the chamber 2 and frontof the receptacle 3, said guard serving to protect the fingerpiece 30from contact with extraneous objects and possible injury, and theseparts simulating the guard and trigger of a conventional type of pistol,whereby a novel type of pencil Sharpener simulating the generalappearance of a pistol is produced. Formed in the bore of the chamber 2so as to come immediately above the end of the pencil which is beingsharpened is an cbservation opening 33 normally closed by a transparentslide or cover 34. movable under pressure of the finger in guideways 35to cover and uncover said opening 83. rllhrough this transparent coverwhen closed, the working action of the sharpening mechanism may beobserved as to guide the operator in the manipulation of the sharpeningmechanism and pencil so as to secure the best working results. `When thecover 341 is opened yaccess is also afforded to the interior of thechamber 2 for the purpose of making such repairs as may be needed fromtime to time and also to permit of the removal of an old blade andsubstitution of a new blade therefor.

1n the operation of the device, the end of the pencil to be sharpened isinserted in the holder 3 so as to overlie and lie in the path of thecutting blade 15, and the exposer projecting portion of the pencil isheld in one hand of the operator, while the other hand of the operatorgrasps the receptacle 8, which thus acts as a grip member. Theforefingcr of the hand gripping the receptacle 3 is then engaged withthevfinger-piece 30 and, while the pencil is leing rotated thelinger-piece 30 is drawn upon to slide the traveler 25 backward, therebymoving the cutting` blade 15 on its cutting motion.

1n this operation the spring 25 is compressed, so that upon release orrelaxation of Vlinger pressure on the finger-piece at the end of theworking operation the spring 26 will expand and return the parts of thecutting mechanism to normal position. By turning or rotating` the pencil7 after each cutting action and successively oscillating the cuttingblade in the manner described, the new surfaces of the end of the pencilpresented for action thereon by the cutting blade will be successivelycut. when required the operator may also shift the pencil inwardly orfeed it forwardly, so that the length of the surface to be sharpened anddegree of its taper may be regulated as desired, the operationsdescribed being continued until the end of the pencil is sharpened andits lead pointed to suit the At intervals` operator. It will beunderstood, of course., that the sharpening operation being carried outis in constant sight of the operator through the transparent panel 34,thus enabling him to accurately gage and control the work. An importantfeature of the 'in-- vention resides in the Jfact that by means of theconstruction described a pencil may be easily, conveniently andaccurately sharpened to any degree desired by the operator and withoutgrinding or tearing the wood of the pencil or breaking the point of thelead, as the cutting blade in its action will simulate the cut made by asharp penknife handled by an expert Sharpener. It will be observed,further, that the blade in its working motion cuts in two directions,that is, both longitudinally and transversely ot the pencil, or, inother words, eects both a draw cut and a shear cut, whereby al rapid andclean cutting action is ensured with a minimum degree of wear and tearupon the blade.

I-Iaving thus fully described my invention, I claim:

1. In a pencil Sharpener, a casing, means carried by the casing Jforrotatably supporting a pencil, a sliding traveler in the casing, apivotally7 mounted oscillatory cutter blade, an inclined and arcuatelycurved guide for guiding said blade in an inclined plane in itsoscillations, a pivotal connection between the blade and the traveler, afinger-piece for sliding the traveler in one direction, and aspring-compressed by suchmovement of the traveler for sliding it in thereverse direction.

2. In a pencil sharpener, a casing, means carried by the casing forrotatably supporting a pencil, a longitudinal guide in the casing, atraveler slidably mounted to reciprocate on said guide, a pivotallymounted cutter blade, an arcuately curved and inclined guide member forguiding the blade in an inclined plane inits oscillations, a connectingrod between the traveler and the cutter blade, a linger-piece forsliding said traveler in one direction, and a coiled spring encompassingthe guide and adapted to be compressed by the movement of the travelerin such direction for moving said traveler in the reverse direction,

3. In a pencil Sharpener, an .oscillatory cutting blade, a slidingtraveler pivotally coupled to the blade, a manually operable member forsliding the traveler in one direct-ion to transfer cutting motion to theblade, and a spring compressed by such movement of the traveler forreversely sliding the traveler and retracting the blade.

4. In a pencil Sharpener, a stationary guide rod, a pivotally mountedoscillatory cutter blade, a reciprocatory traveler slidable on the rod,a connecting rod between the traveler and blade, a finger-piece manuallyactuable for moving the traveler and blade in one direction, and aspring about the rod tensioned by such movement of the traveler Jforimparting reverse motion to the traveler and blade.

5. In a pencil Sharpener, a casing having an end wall provided with anopening therein, a longitudinally split expansible and contractiblepencil supporting tube extending through said opening, studs carried bythe sides of the tube and loosely engaging the sides of the casing, andpencil sharpening means disposed in said casing.

6. A pencil Sharpener comprising a casing formed in simulation of apistol barrel or stock and embodying a longitudinal portion forming asharpening chamber and a depending portion communicating therewith andforming a shavngs receptacle, the latter being in communication withsaid chamber and having an outlet, a tubular pencil support at the frontof the chamber adapted to permit insertion and rotation of a pencil,sharpening means disposed in said chamber, means including atrigger-like projection for operating said sharpening means, and aclosure for the outlet of the shavings receptacle.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature.

FRANK W. BENTON.

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